Question?

Torn Earlobe Repair New York City

When an earlobe is pierced, it becomes at risk for developing a tear. Tears can happen in many ways, if an earring gets caught or is pulled on, and even wearing heavy earrings everyday, can result in a partial or full earlobe tear. Dr. Yang’s treatment for an earlobe tear is contingent upon many variables, including how long it has been since the tear, if the tear is partial or full, and whether or not reconstruction of the lobe deformity is needed.

Techniques to Repair a Torn Earlobe

Often, minimally invasive surgical intervention is needed for a partially or fully torn earlobe. For an earlobe tear that has already healed, Dr. Yang will “freshen” the healed edges of the tear and suture the new wound back together. If the tear is recent and has not already healed, immediate surgical intervention may only require the wound to be sutured without the need for additional “freshening” of tear. After the wall of the wound has been repaired and sutured, no additional intervention is needed.

If reconstruction of the earlobe is needed due to tissue loss from a rip or tear, the procedure becomes more complicated and involves using a Z-plasty procedure to being together the two sides of the tear.

For each technique, however, the procedure is done at our office under local anesthesia. The recovery is short and sutures are removed 7-10 days after surgery. Dr. Yang advises his patients to wait at least six months to re-pierce their ears, as scar tissue and healing must be complete before there is additional trauma to the area.